Opening in 2020 amid the pandemic, GRNoir Wine and Jazz has grown over four years to become a vibrant space where live music, wine and community are savored.
“We had clients and customers that came from all over the country and the world that tried our small bites, experienced live artistry, live jazz and we’ve had jazz artists from all over the world as well.”
Owners Dr. Nadia and Shatawn Brigham say post-pandemic struggles, inflation and changing consumer behaviors have become too much to sustain.
GRNoir will close at the end of February after a month-long Black History celebration called “Young, Black and Gifted” – a hosted program providing young people with performance space.
“We want to highlight and put on display the talent we have in the jazz space with these gifted black artists, so we celebrate that.”
Mentoring will remain a focus in the couple’s other ventures working to advance racial equity, including the challenge of accessing capital.
“ Even though there are millions and millions of dollars that are geared toward investing in black and brown businesses, often those dollars don’t make it to those entrepreneurs.”
The couple looks ahead to their next chapter and thanks the community for embracing GRNoir.
"To know people appreciate what we’ve created. Being a black-owned wine and jazz bar in the heart of Grand Rapids has meant the world to us.”
